Heavy casualties in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]Heavy fighting has broken out in the Kilinochchi area between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army. Fighting went on for 10 hours and casualties are believed to be heavy on both sides, said sources in Vavuniya.

At least 27 SLA soldiers have been killed and more than 200 wounded in the fighting today, said SLA sources.

However sources in Colombo said that so far, the bodies of 46 bodies of the SLA soldiers killed in today's fighting have been brought to Colombo in an Air Force (SLAF) plane.

Also, wounded soldiers are being brought to the Army hospital in Colombo, said hospital sources.

Wounded soldiers are also being admitted to the General hospital in Colombo, the sources added.

The sirens of ambulances moving the wounded continue to be heard in Colombo at present, said sources.

The Voice of Tigers confirmed heavy fighting at Kilinochchi and added that further details will be released later.